Australian sprinter Rohan Browning has advanced to the 100m semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics after winning his heat in a personal best time of 10.01 seconds.
Browning beat a strong field, which included Jamaican champion and Olympic silver medallist Yohan Blake, to clock the sixth fastest time of the heats.
“I was saying to the other guys, when you're in lane one you don't get a personalised introduction and I was definitely trying too hard,” Browning told Channel Seven after the race.
“I don't think I helped my Stawell handicap for next year.
“I had a look at the start list when the heat came out and I thought, 'Geez, I've probably got one of the stiffest heats'.
“But you'd rather do it the hard way because it's much more satisfying that way. And you've got to front up to everybody at some point anyway.
“There are a lot of media pundits writing really well-meaning stories about how great it would be to make the final, but I've never been here just to make the final, no matter what the bookies say, the pundits or the punters.
“I hope there are a few more believers tonight.”
The semi-finals are scheduled to start after 8pm (AEST) on Sunday night.
ROHAN BROWNING! 🔥🔥
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) July 31, 2021
The first Australian to compete at the 100m in the Olympics since 2004 WINS his heat in a time of 10.01. Into the semis. 🇦🇺#Tokyo2020 #Athleticspic.twitter.com/ZqnnfA9jhk